pigeons Playing Ping Pong is a unique star, a bright constellation within the multiverse of jam bands. This Maryland-bred quartet fuses funk,rock,and electrifying showmanship into what they call “high-energy psychedelic funk.”
Since forming in 2009 at the University of Maryland, they’ve built a devoted following thru relentless touring (as many as 200 shows a year) and electrifying performances where kaleidoscopic improvisation reigns supreme and no two shows are ever alike.
While their contemporaries might lean into either pure funk or sprawling psychedelia, Pigeons threads the needle, creating dance-worthy ear worms that can spiral into 20-minute face-melting, cosmic portals that never lose the crowd’s attention.
Their latest album, Feed the Fire, marks an evolution for guitarists Greg Ormont and Jeremy Schon, who pushed beyond their comfort zones by bringing in collaborators like moon Taxi’s Wes Bailey and Chalk Dinosaur’s John O’Hallaron.
It’s their most textured work yet, though you’d never guess these intricate studio creations get stretched and reimagined nightly through their PRS guitars, like Ormont’s battle-tested 2004 Custom 24 (a thousand shows deep) and Schon’s modified Hollowbody II that’s been his companion for over a decade.
I caught up with both guitarists to discuss how they’re nurturing their creative fire, why their collaboration with PRS guitars is a natural marriage, and how they balance their dense touring schedule while keeping every performance completely unique. Plus, what their favorite songs are, and how SpaghettiOs may, or may not, have made the band’s name miraculously materialize from the soup realm.
Greg, you’ve described “Feed the Fire” as being about nurturing and spreading the passion that the band and fans share together.How do you hope this fire will catch with new audiences, and what do you want listeners to feel when they experience the record?
GO: We poured our hearts and souls into this album and I hope people feel inspired to do the same in their lives. We look at recording albums as a metaphor for how we approach life in general. We’ve all been given this amazing possibility to live, create, and spread joy, so we’d be fools to squander it. I never want to look back at our albums, shows, or anything for that matter, and ask myself if I could’ve tried harder or given it more. I sleep well at night knowing that we gave everything we had recording Feed The Fire.
What’s your favorite song on “Feed the Fire” and why?
GO: I’m not one for “favorites” per se, but I must admit that I love playing the title track, Feed The fire. There’s something about the triumphant peak that sends me through the roof every time. But I truly love playing all the new stuff. As a band, we’re always chasing novelty, which is a big reason why we improvise every night; we never know where the music will lead us.
What inspires you creatively?
GO: As a lyricist, there are all these big grand ideas that are constantly bouncing around in my head, but it’s frequently enough hearing a unique turn of phrase that actively gets my wheels turning, which is partly why I’m such an avid reader.Just the othre day, I was watching an interview of one of our
Jeremy Schon of Pigeons Playing Ping Pong on Inspiration, Jams, and PRS Guitars
What inspires you creatively?
JS: Nature and music. Going hiking and immersing myself in nature definitely recenters me and helps me get inspired. However, nothing inspires me creatively more than seeing live music, and I’m constantly listening to music at home, too.
You’re known for these incendiary,face-melting jams that can stretch for 20+ minutes. How do you know when to push further into the psychedelic void versus when to bring it back home? Is it reading the crowd, reading the band, or purely intuitive?
JS: It’s a combination of all the above! If we’re in the zone, we might just keep pushing each other in a jam or solo until we feel we’ve reached our peak moment before bringing it back home. We’re always listening for musical cues from each other,and as we’ve been playing together for so long,it really has become very intuitive for us to improvise cohesively as a single entity. Sometimes you gotta read the room too, and if a crowd isn’t feeling a 15-minute psychedelic journey, we try to tailor the jams appropriately to match the vibe and energy in the room. We try to write our setlists to have an appropriate balance between songs and improvisation,keeping it fascinating for us and the fans.
How does your PRS setup complement Greg’s in creating the band’s layered guitar sound?
JS: My PRS Hollowbody II has a woodier and more resonant sound compared to greg’s solidbody PRS. We also run through pretty different pedalboards, and I run through a 1968 Fender Bassman amp with a closed-back 2×12 cab, versus Greg’s more tweed-voiced victoria Golden Melody combo amp.
Have you made any modifications to your PRS guitars to suit the band’s needs?
JS: I have! On my red burst 2006 PRS Hollowbody II, I’ve had a few modifications done. First I installed PRS phase 3 locking tuners. Then I had the piezo system removed since I occasionally would accidentally hit the piezo switch during a show, which would sometimes cause the signal to cut if the battery was dead.I’m generally not a fan of having anything that relies on batteries in my signal chain. Though, the PRS piezo pickup sounded awesome, and I still have that on my 2022 HBII – just wasn’t something I ever used with the band. I also just recently swapped the original Archtop pickups out for the new PRS McCarty III pickups, which seem to cut a bit more in the mix, and added coil taps so I can get single coil tones too.
Favorite guitar and why? Does it have a name?
JS: Both of my PRS Hollowbod
Pigeons Playing Ping Pong on Their PRS Guitars: A connection to Sound and Stage
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Pigeons Playing Ping Pong, known for their high-energy performances and improvisational jams, have found a reliable partner in PRS guitars. Guitarists Greg Ormont and Jeremy Scallop recently shared their experiences with the brand, detailing how their instruments have enhanced their sound and stage presence.
Finding the Right Sound
Ormont, the band’s guitarist, expressed his satisfaction with his PRS Silver Sky. “I was smiling ear-to-ear when I first played my silver sky live,” he said. “As a funk guitarist, I’d been searching for a strat sound that still felt like home in my hands, and PRS came through in the clutch. Things got funkier, fast.” The Silver Sky, known for its versatility and agreeable playability, has clearly resonated with Ormont’s style. https://www.prsguitars.com/silver-sky
Scallop echoed the sentiment of finding the right instrument, noting the stability of his PRS Hollowbody II. “I used to have to fix my intonation pretty regularly when I toured with my Epiphone Dot,” he explained. “Once I switched to the PRS Hollowbody II, I’ve hardly ever had to touch anything beyond a yearly tune-up.” This reliability is crucial for touring musicians who need instruments that can withstand the rigors of the road.https://www.prsguitars.com/hollowbody-ii
If PRS Guitars Could Talk…
When asked what stories their PRS guitars would tell from the road, both guitarists offered humorous insights. Ormont jokingly attributed the wear and tear to his energetic performances: “You think I’m covered in sweat? You should see the strap!”
Scallop shared a memorable anecdote: “Remember that time Marcus king played me late night on Jam Cruise? I can’t believe you let someone play me after 3am!” This highlights the camaraderie within the jam band scene and the respect musicians have for each other’s instruments. Jam Cruise is a well-known annual music festival catering to the jam band community. https://www.jamcruise.com/
A Dream Collaboration
the duo were asked which Pigeons Playing Ping Pong song they would want Paul Reed smith, the founder of PRS Guitars, to hear.Ormont suggested “Horizon,” explaining, “I would love for Paul to experience the pure joy bouncing around the room at the song’s peak, and for him to appreciate his role in creating such magical moments of human connection.”
Scallop took the opportunity to extend an invitation: “Ideally we’d pull Paul on stage for an epic jam on Poseidon! Consider this an official invite.” This playful request underscores the band’s appreciation for PRS and their desire to collaborate with the instrument’s creator.
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